Celebrations reportedly cost $50 million; local activists protest extravagance
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and media personality Lauren Sanchez wrapped up their extravagant three-day wedding celebrations in Venice on Saturday with a grand finale party at the historic Arsenale, a medieval shipyard.
The couple, who exchanged vows Friday evening on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, were joined by a host of A-list guests including Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio, Orlando Bloom, Tom Brady, Oprah Winfrey, and Queen Rania of Jordan. Celebrities were seen departing from the luxury Gritti Palace Hotel, some in pyjamas and robes, to board boats to the final event.
Bezos, 61, wore a black suit, while Sanchez, 55, stunned in a soft-pink off-shoulder dress as they were spotted kissing and waving from a boat. At the ceremony, Sanchez wore a custom Dolce & Gabbana high-necked gown inspired by Sophia Loren’s wedding dress from the 1958 film Houseboat, paired with borrowed diamond earrings by the same designer for good luck.
The entire celebration is estimated to have cost $50 million and hosted around 200–250 guests.
Though the Venice ceremony had no legal status, a city official confirmed the couple likely tied the knot legally in the United States beforehand, avoiding Italy’s complex marriage procedures.
Protests vs. Praise
While local business owners and political leaders welcomed the wedding as a major economic boost, activist groups and residents staged protests against the event, decrying what they saw as the city being used as a playground for the ultra-rich.
About 1,000 demonstrators marched on Saturday, accusing the city of prioritizing elite visitors over locals.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro defended the celebration, stating, “Bezos is more Venetian than the protesters,” and confirmed that the billionaire had donated €3 million ($3.5 million) to local institutions without attaching any conditions.
Background
Bezos and Sanchez announced their engagement in 2023, four years after Bezos’ high-profile divorce from MacKenzie Scott, his wife of 25 years.
